Repeating mechanism for watches or other time-pieces



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. TERSTBGEN. REPBATING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES OR OTHER TIME mans.

No. 421,844. Patented Feb. 18, 1890.

WITNESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

I'- TERSTEGEN. REPEATING MBGHANISM FOR WATCHES OR OTHER TIME PIECES.

Patentd Feb.

Jwefm/ u. PETERS. Mil-\MIWH w-m m n c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3,v

(No Model.)

ETERSTEGEN. REPEATING MECHANISM FOR WATGHESOR OTHER TIME PIECES. No. 421,844.

Patented Feb. 18, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED TERSTEGEN, OF ELIZABETH, NE\V JERSEY.

REP EATING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES OR OTHER TIME-PIECES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,844, dated February 18, 1890.

Application filed April 23, 1884. Serial No. 128,899. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED TERSTEGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Repeating Mechanism for \Vatches or other Time-Pieces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the striking or repeating mechanism of that class of repeating and striking watches wherein the hour is struck by a revolving toothed disk or rack and the divisions of the hour by a separate rack. c

The objects of my invention are, first, to separate from the time mechanism those parts of the repeating mechanism which have here tofore been placed within the time-movement and place the same, with the other parts of the repeating mechanism, outside of the time mechanism, and this part of the invention consists in placing the said parts-viz., the spring-barrel, gearing, hammers, and bellwires-on the exterior surface of the timemovement and arranging the other parts of the striking mechanism to connect therewith; second, to construct the repeating mechanism in which the hour and its divisions are struck by separate racks as a separate and distinct attachment for watch-movements and adapt the same to be connected with the movement, and this part of the invention consists in placing all the parts of the repeating mechanism on one plate, which may be either the watch plate or bridges or a separate plate, and arranging the said mechanism so that the various parts connect with each other and with the time-train without interfering with the regulating parts of the time mechanism; third, to construct repeating mechanism in which the hour and its divisions are struck by separate racks, so that it can be manufactured as a separate attachment ready for connecting with a watchmovement, and this part of the invention consists in connecting the several parts of the repeatingmechanism with a plate and bridge, which said plate and bridge are fastened together and adapted to be applied to the watchmovement; fourth, to arrange the repeating mechanism so that the bell-wires can be placed above the movement and between the said mechanism and the periphery of the repeaterplate or watch-plate, and this part of the invention consists in arranging the snails, vibrating snail-pieces, racks, regulating-wheels, hammers, and springs around the center post of the watch, so as to leave space between the repeating mechanism and the periphery of the repeater-plate or watch-plate for the bells; fifth, in repeating-watches wherein. the hours and the divisions of the hour are struck by separate racks to provide space for the bells around the surface of the back of the watchmovement, and this part of the invention consists in arranging the entire repeating mechanism above or over the time-movement, so as to leave a space between the said mechanism and the periphery of the watch-plate for the reception and vibration of the said bells; sixth, to simplify the assembling and adj usting of the repeating mechanism, and this part of the invention consists in providing the snail-pieces with adjusting devices by which they can be quickly and easily adjusted to operate accurately in connection with the striking-racks; seventh, to increase the volume of sound from the bell-wires, and this part of the invention consists in clamping the bell-wires and the watch-movement firmly together and to the case; eighth, to connect the sliding bolt for operating the repeating mechanism with the said mechanism above the center rim of the watch-case, and this part of the invention consists in connecting the slide with the lever of the repeating mechanismv through the bezel or snaps instead of through the center; ninth, to connect the sliding bolt directly with the repeating mechanism, so as to form part thereof instead of part of the case, and this part consists in abell-wire made from sheet metal and shaped in [the process of manufacture, without bending, so as to fit the time-piece, and which is also made in one piece with the plate by which it is fastened to the timepiece; twelfth, to provide an improved hammer for striking time-pieces, and this consists of a hammer in which a single spring is arranged to control the click, and, in connection with a pin on the plate, to throw the hammer back after making a stroke.

In the accompanying drawings, Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents the back of a watch-movement with my improved repeating mechanism attached thereto; Fig. 1, the repeater-plate with part of the repeating mechanism removed; Fig. 1", the under side, and Fig. 1 the upper side, of the repeater-bridge; Fig. 1, a section of the repeater-plate, taken on line a: :0, of Fig. 1. Figs. 1 to 1- are views in detail of the several parts of the repeating mechanism. Sheet II: Fig. 2 represents a repeating attachment applied to a three-cpiarter-plate watchmovement, and showing also a modification of the hour-piece, the settinglever, winding segment, and releasing device; Fig. 3, the repeater-plate with the bridge or upper plate removed and detached from the watch-movement, also showing the position of the disk or hour rack before being revolved by the movement of the lever, also showing the posit-ion of the hour-piece and the winding-segment, lever, and releasing device. Fig. 4: represents the repeating attaclnnent separated from the watclrmovement, and showing the minute-striking rack H released by the movement of the lever, pressing the hour-piece against the hour-snail. This figure also shows the position of the shoulder 4 of the minute-striking rack with relation to the hammer-click, which is released and set in position byits spring to engage the teeth of the disk or hour rack. Fig. 5 is a sectional edge elevation of Fig. 4, illustrating the position of the rack-piece ll and the releasing spring and pin when the rack-piece is not in contact with the snail Z-in other words, before the rack-piece is released; Fig. 6, a similar view illustrating the position of the rack-piece and releasing spring and pin when the rack-piece has been released and is in contact with its snail; Fig. 7, a detail view of the windingsegment with its pin engaging the slot in the hour-piece, and illustrating the manner of operating the pin of the releasing device. Fig. 7 represents a top and an edge view of the winding-segment, and showing the pin by which it engages the slot in the hourpiece. Fig. 7" represents the hour-piece with the slot and releasing device. It also shows an arm in dotted lines by which the hourpiece may be pivoted to the plate. Fig. 8 shows a clamping-plate for fastening the bellwires to the plate. Sheet III: Fig. 9 represents a watch-movement with the repeating mechanism applied to the back plate of the watch, showing also another form of bridge,

a different arrangement of the repeating mechanism, and the sliding-bolt attachment for setting the repeating mechanism. Fig. 9 represents the under plate or bridge, and Fig. 9 the upper plate or bridge. Fig. 9 shows details of the setting and winding mechanism, Fig. 9. Fig. 10 represents an arrangement of the repeating mechanism applied to a f ull-plate watch. Fig. 10 shows a barrel-bridge arranged for receiving the repeating mechanism. Fig. 1O represents the bridge. Fig. 10 represents detailed views of the sliding bolt illustrated in Fi 10.

Referring to the drawings, Sheet I, the center post and wheel of a watch-movement are indicated by the letter A, the other parts of the movement being omitted. B is the repeater-plate, and C the repeater-bridge,which carry the various parts of the repeater mechanism. Plate B is about the same diameter as the plate of the time-movement and is placed directly 011 the latter plate and fastened to the time-movement by two or more of the screws which hold the movement together, screw-holes being made in the plate B at points corresponding to the screw-holes and post-s of the f ull-plate movements. Plate B has an irregularly-cut opening a,which admits those parts of the movement which project through or above the back plate. This opening is of such a shape that the plate can be applied to diiferent styles of watch-movementssay full, half, or three-quarter plate. Any portion of the said movement that projects through or above the back plate passes into the said opening and shows through the same, while the plate B, by reason of this opening, fits down on the back plate around the said parts. The segmental repeaterbridge C is of less radius than plate B, on which it is placed and secured by suitable screws. This bridge has its surface cut out, forming an irregular opening 0. of the same or similar shape as the opening in that part of plate 13 over which the said bridge is placed, so that the edges of the openings (0 a may coincide. Between plate 13 and bridge 0 are placed all the wheels and snails of the repeating mechanism, suitable seats being turned out for the same and holes provided for the staffs, pivots, dse. In plate 13 is a hole I) for the reception of the barrel D, in which is the spring that operates the toothed hourdisk f. The hole I) is counter-bored in its under side (see Fig. 1) for the reception of the flange of the barrel D, which is engaged by the screws that fasten the barrel in place. The said flange is provided with notches, in order that one of the screws may engage one of the said notches to hold the barrel when it is turned to adjust the power of the mainsprin The spring in the barrel engages an arbor which carries a pinion d, ratchetwheel c, and toothed disk f. On the upper side of the disk j" is a pin 1, and on the arbor above the disk is placed loosely a finger 71. for moving the rack which strikes the divisions of the hour. This finger lies on top of the disk, and its free end is provided with a pin it, or in place thereof its end may be turned up at right angles to form a pin, both forms being shown in Fig. 1- The arbor carries a toothed wheel 1', that engages the regulating-wheels E in the usual manner common to all repeaters, and the arbor also connects with the spring in the barrel D. F is the lever which connects with the sliding bolt outside the case and sets the repeating mechanism. This lever is pivoted between the plate and bridge (see Fig. 1) and has two operating ends j j, the former operating the winding segment and the latter the hour-piece. G is the winding-segment, (shown separately in Fig. 1,) placed over the lever-on the same pivot, its teeth engaging the pinion d. The segment has a pin 715, which projects downward against or in line with the lower edge of the lever. The lever carries a pin it" just above the edge of the winding-segment. \Vhen the lever is turned to the right, the pin hearing against the edge of the windingsegment and pin 7.: bearing against the edge of the lever, the lever by means of said pins turns the winding-segment, and thereby the winding-segment is caused to wind up the spring in the barrel D. By this means the spring is wound suiiicicntly to turn'the disk back and strike the hours and also cause the when the lever is pushed around the end j strikes the stop. The side of the stop next to the lever has a beveled notch or face, as shown, and when the edge of the lever is pressed against it it will have a tendency to press the arm Z down as soon as it meets resistance from the hour-piece coming in contact with its snail Z, and thereby being prevented from moving farther sidewise on its pivot; Above the lever is a flat spring I, having one end fastened near the periphery of the plate and its opposite free end provided with a pin a, projecting upward through a hole n in the bridge (1. Against the pin an arm n of the piece 11 bears and holds the said piece back. The piece 11 is pivoted at 2 to bridge 0, and at one end'has an arm which is carried in contact with the snail Z and at the opposite end a rack in position to engage the click on the hammer which strikes the divisions of the hour. The piece H is held by the pin it bearing against the end of the arm n, and when releasedfrom the said pin a rack springp throws it forward. against the snail. The operation of this device is as follows:

When theleveris turned to wind up the spring in the barrel, its end j is carried against the stop m and moves the hour-piece until it is stopped by its snail. The resistance it then meets with causes it to press the hour-piece down, (by riding up the beveled surface of the stop,) and the arm Z, bearing on the spring I, bends its free end downward, and

thus withdraws the pin it out of the way of the arm n of piece H. Thereupon the rackspring throws the piece forward until it is stopped by its snail Z and the rack on the opposite end is carried past the click on the hammer, the number of teeth passing the click depending on the distance the snail allowed the piece to move. Thus the hourpiece is set by the direct pressure of the lever, while the piece II is released thereby and set by the spring. The end j moves from its normal position a certain distance before it touches the stop on the hour-piece. In this interval the spring is partly wound up, and the force thus obtained is used to move the rack for striking the divisions of the hour. The toothed disk f, it will be observed, has twelve teeth, and a portion of its periphery is blank. I Then the .lever first winds the spring, the blank space passes the hour-click; but when the lever touches the stop of the hour-piece the first tooth (counting from the left) is close to the click of the hour-hammer, and when the arm of the hour-piece touches the longest step of the snail the first tooth will have passed the click, and from that point on an additional tooth is carried past the click as the arm is carried to the successive steps of the snail-that is, when the :arm touches the deepest step all the teeth on the rack will have passed the hour-click and the disk is set to strike twelve oclock. \Vhen the disk is turned as above indicated, the pin g is turned away from the finger it, (see Fig. 1

and when the piece H is released the pin on said finger h is struck by the shoulder 3, formed on piece H, and thereby the fingeris turned or thrown around to the left, the distance it is moved depending upon the distance the piece H is permitted to move by the snail. This movement is so adjusted that if one of the divisions of the hour has passed, (say five minutes,) and consequently one tooth of the rack is carried past the click, the finger is carried to such a point that on the return it will move the piece back, so that one tooth will be caused to engage the click and operate the hammer. The rack shown in Fig, l is arranged for striking divisions of five minutes, there being eleven teeth, and each step. of the snail, except the longest step, represents an interval of five minutes, the first or longest step being opposite the piece II on the full hour to prevent the first tooth from passing the click, as there is no division of the hour to be struck. To cause the finger to move the piece I'l back,*so'that the teeth on the rack will engage the click and strike the divisions of the hour, the pin g is adjusted so that after the hours are struck by the return-revolution of the disk the pin 9,

after an interval, comes in contact with the finger, and this pin forces the finger around, and in turn the pin it on the finger, bearing against the shoulder 3, forces the piece H back, and, its rack engaging the click of the hammer, the divisions of the hour are struck. \Vhen all the teeth on the rack have passed the click, the pin g, after the hours are struck, immediately touches the finger h and moves it back; but if no teeth have passed (when it is an even hour) the pin does not touch the finger until the disk has nearly stopped its motion, and then it moves the finger only enough to move the arm of piece H back of the pin a of the releasing-spring I. To prevent erroneous striking of the time by a failure to push the lever the full distance, a device is used which will now be described. (See Sheet I, Figs. 1 and 1, and Sheet II, Figs. 2, 3, and 4-.) On the tail 1) of the hour-hammer click is fixed a pin g, which projects up in line with the edge of piece H, (see Sheet 11, Figs. 5 and 0; also shown in Fig. 2,) in which at the angle formed by the extension of the rack is an incut forming a shoulder i, which lies directly over the click,

(see Sheet II, Fig. 2,) so that when the piece is back the shoulder l bears against the pin q, and, pressing against the same, turns the click aside out of the path of the teeth of disk f, so that no matter how much the said disk turns the teeth will not engage the click and the hammer will not be operated; but when the piece H is released and the rackspring sets it, the click being released by the shoulder 4: moving away from the pin q, the click-spring throws it into position to engage the teeth of diskf. (See Sheet II, Fig. i.) As before described, piece H is not released until lever F is turned far enough to press the hour-piece against the snail. Consequently, if by inadvertenee or accident the lever is not moved far enough to set the hour-piece against the snail and release the piece ll, the click will not be released and the disk is turned around to its normal position without operating the hammer. Thus it will be impossible to strike the time wrong, and when once the repeating mechanism is set by moving the lever the right distance and releasing the piece 11 the time must be struck by the mechanism resetting itself under the pressure of the spring.

Sheet II: The lever is shown in connection with the winding-segment and hour-piece on a three-quarter plate. The winding-segment has an arm L, provided with a downwardlyproj eeting pin 15. The hourpiece H (see Fig. 3) is a segment of a circle, and it rests in a position nearly approximating to the periphery of the plate. It has a curved arm or extension, as shown, by which it is pivoted to the plate at 1, Figs. 3 and i. The said piece is provided with a slot t, Fig. 7 into which the pin i on the whiding-segment, Fig. 7, projects and is fastened a releasing-spring I.

To the under side of the hour-piece (See Fig. 7 Sheet II.) This spring is also shown in Figs. 2, 3, and l, and in detail in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 on Sheet II. The free end of said spring rests over one end of the slot 15, so that when the lever moves over the winding-segment the pin 6 pushes the hour-piece until its snail end presses against one of the steps of the hoursnail, its further movement being stopped by the said snail. The continued pressure of the lever causes the pin 6 to bend the spring I down, whereupon a pin 12, that projects upward from said spring into a hole in the hour-piece and through a coincident opening in the bridge 0 adjacent to and in juxtaposition with the inner edge of the rackpiece H, is drawn downward by the bending of the spring below the surface of plate 0. The said pin it holds the rack-piece H against the pressure of its spring. Consequently when withdrawn it releases said piece, whereupon its spring causes it to fly until its snail end comes in contact with its snail or one of the steps thereof. 'lhereupon the rack on its op-. posite end is carried past the click of the minute-striking hammer, or so many of the teeth of said rack as there are minutes or five minutes in the hour. (See Figs. 4 and 0.) The rack-piece 11 being in this case arranged for striking five minutes, it will be understood that each tooth of the rack represents an inter *al of five minutes, and when. the piece is set by the snail, or by its snail end coming in contact with one of the steps of the snail, it is set for striking the number of five minutes there are in the hour less than the total number.

Sheet Ill: On this sheet are shown several modes of applying the repeating mechanism so as to further reduce the space occupied by the same, also showin the mai nsprin g applied over or above the back plate of the movement. The bridge (2, it will be observed, is a small flat irregularly-shaped plate placed between the centerpost and edge of the movement, so as to leave am ple space for the bells within the periphery of the movement. The repeating mechanism (shown in Figs. 9, 9, and 9 is of ordinary character, and its mode of operation is well known. The novel features consist in placing all the mechanism outside of and on one surface of the watch-movement and in the manner of connecting the lever with the sliding bolt outside of the ease. IIeretofore in repeaters of this class the various parts of the repeating mechanism were separated and distributed about the watch-movement, the spring-barrel and regulating-gearing, hammers, and bell-wires being placed between the front and back plates of the movement or within the time mechanism. The releasing- IHOVGS.

spring, lever, winding-segment, the link, rack, hammer-clicks, hour-disk, and the snails were placed on the front plate of the movement the releasing-springlying directly in line with the periphery of the front plate. In the pres cut invention these parts are all grouped together on one surface of the wateh-movemen t, and have only a gearing-connection with the time mechanism, the spring-barrel D as a separate attachment is dispensed with and a seat D is turned in the plate for the spring, and the gearing E, Fig. 9, is arranged and connected with the spring in the usual manner and between the plate and the bridge 0, as described and shown in connection with other figures of the drawings, and the rackpiece H, by which the divisions of the hour are set and struck, and the rack-spring are placed above the bridge, and the rack-piece which moves toward the snail Z has a pin 4" projecting downward into a slot 7'', in which it moves, said slot being made in the bridge and extends to the snail Z. The rack-releasin g spring, the lever and hour-piece, the winding-segm ent,and its li nk,which presses against the releasing-spri n g, are all con strneted in the usual way; but the arangement of the several parts of the mechanism is difierent. The releasing-spring I is placed nearer to the center of the watch-movement. By'this and other rearranging of parts, which is clearly illustrated, the repeating mechanism is grouped in a small space nearer to the center of the movement, and thereby an annular space J is left between the repeating mechanism and the periphery 'of the movement for the bells. Another departure from the usual construction of the repeater consists in dispensing with the spring-barrel as a separate device and providing a place for the spring in the bridge by turning out a seat D, and in placing the snails between the center post and the periphery of the movement instead of at the center of the movement, as heretofore.

Fig. 10: This figure represents the repeating mechanism arranged in a diiferent manner from that last described. The snails, gearing, spring-barrel, racks, and hammers 0ccupy different positions on the surface of the movement. The mechanism is also shown as applied directly to the barrel-bridge forming part of the movement-plate of a full-plate VValtham watch; but it can be arranged in the same manner on other full-plate movements, and also on three-quarter-plate move ments. The snails may be connected on the three-(1narter-plate movements in the same way as shown in other figures or in any suitable manner. In this figure the snail is moved by a pinion placed on the sta'lf, which is connect ed through the movement by suitable gearing with the cannon-pinion. The star-wheel and hour-snail Z are pivoted in the lower plate and bridge, and the upper end of their staff is held and turns in a slot t in the upper bridge. The escapementspring K presses against the star-wheel, and thereby holds the end of the staff in the slot at one end of the slot, but at the same time permits it to move lengthwise of the slot when pressed with sufficient force. The hour'pieoo II when moved against the hour-snail Z presses against the snail and moves the stall lengthwise of the slot, and when the hour-piece is set the pressure of the escapement-spring forces the staff back to its normal pos tion. The object of this construction is to release the rack-piece H, the end of the curved arm of which bears against the end of the staff which projects above the slot.

Fig. 10 shows the barrelbridge forming part of the movement-plate, arranged to receive the repeating mechanism with the gearing, hammers, snails, and springs removed, and Fig. l0 shows the bridge with the rackpiece and spring attached.

The sliding bolt by which the repeating mechanism is operated or set from the outside of the case is illustrated on Sheet III. Figs. 9 and 10 show different methods of connecting the outside bolt with the lever. In Fig. 9, M is the center of a watch-case, M is the cap-snap, and M is the back-snap. In the cap-snap is made a cut or slot to admit the lever F flush with the snap, and long enough to allow the lever to move the proper distance to set the repeating mechanismf N is an insideslide of thin metal, which is placed on the surface of the center M, with its con cave edge, which has the same curvature as the case, against the back-snap M This slide is held in place by two screwheads a a, under which it slides freely back and forth, its movement being limited by a projection to of its convex edge which projects outward beyond the periphery of the center, where it is connected with the outside slide N, which lies closely against the periphery of the center and is provided with a thumb-catch. On the inside slide is a stud a", which rests against the edge of the lever. By pushing the slides in the direction of the arrow the stud bearing against the lever moves it to set the repeater mechanism, while the lever is returned to its normal position by its spring in the ordinary manner. It will be observed that the connection between the slides and the lever is made without cutting into the center, the inside slide being placed between the edge of the ontside or back of the case and the center, a suitable slot being made in the said edge for the movement of the lever. In Figs. 10 and 1O IIO is shown a modification of the slide. In this 6 the inside slide is dispensed with, and the lever is carried through a slot in the edge of the cover and into a mortise or slot in the outside slide l and its end, projecting through the said slot is provided with a transverse hole, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10.) A spring c, which is laid in a channel 1) in the edge of the slide, has one end passed through the hole in the lever and the opposite end, which is reduced to form a pin 4;, passed through the bent end of aplate O, which is laid over the channel and spring to cover and conceal the same and has its opposite end secured to the slide by a screw. The end of said plate which is secured to the slide projects above the surface of the slide and forms a thumb-catch. By this construction the sliding boltN is fastened to the lever by the spring 1, which holdsit firmly and tightly against and over the jointbctween the case and center and over the slot through which and in which the lever moves. The spring attachment at the same time allows the slide to move back when the case is opened and closed, and thus forms a perfectly dust-tight cover for the opening in the case without interfering with the opening and closing of the same.

The adjusting devices for the snail-pieces are shown in detail on Sheet I. Three several devices are shown under Fig. 1 One consists of a set-screw '7, passed into the snailpiece, so that its head will be carried against the steps of the snail. Another shows a screw 8 passed entirely through the snail-piece, so that its point willbe carried against the snail; and the third consists in making the snailpiece proper separate and pivoting it to the lever and then regulating it by means of an oval or half headed screw 9. By these arrangements the assembling and adjusting of the repeating mechanism are greatly facilitated, for if any error occurs in making the mechanism or the plates whereby the hour, minute, or quarter pieces would be prevented from touching the snails at. the right moment the pieces can be adjusted instantly without taking the mechanism apart and without filing or cutting the pieces.

The improved bell-wires are shown in Sheet I and Sheet II, Figs. 2, 1, and 6. The mode of manufacturing these wires consists in making them of the proper shape to go into the watch and in one piece with the plate by which they are attached from a sheet or plate of suitable metal.

Fig. 8, Sheet II, represents the clampingplate of a bell-wire, which may be used also to clamp the bell-wires tightly to the case. The downwardly-tnrned flange 15 is intended to bear against the inside periphery of the watch-case, so as to connect the fixed ends of the bell-wires with the ease, and thereby give a solidity to their attachment, which will greatly increase their sonorousness and the clearness of the sound.

On Sheet II, Figs. 2 and 4.- show the screwplates of the bell-wires extended beyond the periphery of the repeater-plate, so as to bear against the case and produce the same elfect of increasing the volume and clearness of the sound. Fig. 3 shows the repeater-plate with the projection g arranged so as to bear against the case as well as the clamp.

The hammers Y shown in the various figures are of novel construction. They are struck out from sheet metal. 'lhrough their heads is drilled a hole in which one end of the click-spring 10 is inserted, as represented by the dotted lines, the opposite end being placed against the tail of the click. The click-spring is made from a piece of hairspring, and its end is secured in the hole in the hammer-head by a pin.

All of the steel pieces and brass plates described and shown herein are of such shape that they can be struck outfrom sheet metal by suitable dies.

The spring-barrel D, Fig. 1, can be easily detached from the repeating plate or bridge without disturbing other parts of the repeat ing mechanism. This is a great advantage, as in case the mainspring breaks the barrel can be removed and a new spring inserted in a short time and at a slight expense.

I claim- 1. In repeating-watches, arepeating mechanism placed on one surface of the time-move ment, having separately-operated racks engaging the hammers to strike the hour and its divisions and driven by a special spring, in combination with the snails driven by the mainspring of the time-movement, substantially as described.

9. A repeating mechanism placed on the ba3k of the watch-movement and having separately-operated racks for the hour and its divisions and driven by a special motorspring, in combination with a snail or snails in connection with and driven by the mainspring of the time-movement, substantially as described.

3. A repeating attachment having separately-operated racks for the hour and its divisions, in combination with a starting device connected with the plate of the repeating attachment for releasing the rack or racks, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a watch-movement, a plate and bridge, and a repeating mechanism having separately-operated racks for the hour and its divisions, a spring for operating the repeating mechanism and snails and snailpieces, all of which are connected with said plate and bridge, and the snails being connected by intermediate gearing with the mainspring of the time-movement, substantially as described.

5. In combination with awatch-movement, a repeating mechanism having separately-operated racks for the hour and its divisions assembled about the center of the movement, so as to leave space on the same surface for the bell-wires within the periphery of the movement, and a special spring by which the repeating mechanism is driven, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a watclmnovement, the snails, regulating-wheels, hannners, bellwires, and spring-barrel, snail-pieces, and releasing device l'or the rack that strikes the divisions of thehour placed on one surface of the movement, substantiall as shown and described.

7. The combination, in a repeating mechanism, of the snails, snail-pieces, spring-lmrrel, and regulating-whoels placed together on the back of the watchanovement, substantially as specified.

8. As a new article of man utacture, a repeating mechanism having separate racks for engaging the hammers for striking the hours and its divisions assembled together ready for placing on the watch-moven'ient, and having a special spring for driving the repeating mechanism, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the plate B, adapted to be connected with a watch-movement, and bridge 0, placed on the said plate, and the repeating mechanism herein described, connected with the said plate and bridge, so that when placed 011 the watch-movei'nent it can be connected with the time mechanism, and having a special spring for driving the repeating mechanism, substantially as described.

10. The plate B, adapted to be connected. with a watch-movei'nent and provided with a suitably-placed opening for the spring-barrel, in combination with a spring-barrel placed in said opening and repeating mechanism driven by the spring in said barrel, substantially as described.

11. The repeater-plate provided with an opening or seat D for the'mainspring of the repeating mechanism, in combination with a mainspring and repeating mechanism driven thereby and a device for winding the spring, substantially as described.

12. A spring-barrel for repeating mechanism placed above or over the gearing mechanism in awatch-move1nent, substantially as described and shown.

13. In a repeating-watch, a plate provided with an opening on seat D for the mainspring of the repeating mechanism, in combination with a winding device for the sprin g, all arranged on the back plate or bridge of the watch-movement, substantially as described.

14:. In a watch-movement, the back plate or bridge provided with a suitable opening to form a receptacle for the spring-barrel of a repeating mechanism arranged to be placed on the back of a watch-movement, substantially as described.

15. In combination with a watchmovement, striking-racks engaging the ham 1n er-clicks, a releasing device for the rack that moves the hammer that strikes the divisions of the hour, snail-pieces, and snails, all arranged and connected above the back of the watch-movement, substantially as specified.

16. In combination with the watch-move ment, the hammers, striking-racks engaging the hammer-clicks, snailpieces, and snails, all arranged and connected above the back of a watch-movement so as to leave space on the same surface for the bell-wires within the periphery of the movement, substantially as specified.

17. In striking attachments for Watches, a spring-barrel separated from the time movement, in combination with the gearing and a device for winding up the spring in the bar" rel placed 011 one surface of the watch movc ment, substantially as described.

18. A repeating m echanism placed between a plate and bridge, in combination with devices for connecting the same with the timetrain of a watch-moven'ient and a special spring for driving the repeating mechanism, substantially as described.

19. A repeating mechanism in which the hours and its divisions are struck by separate racks and adapted to be connected with the time-train by the gearing which sets the snail, assembled on the back of the watchmovement so as to leave space on the same surface for the bells, in combination with a special spring for driving the repeating m echanism, substantially as described.

20. The combination, in a repeating-watch, of the hour-disk f, finger 71 and rack-piecell, with the gearing arranged on the back of the watch-movement, substantially as described.

21.. The combination, in a repeating-watch, of the hour-diskf, finger 7'1, and rack-piece H, with the hammers all arranged on one surface of the watch-movement, substantially as described.

22. The combination of the hour-disk f, linger 72., and rack-piece H, with the gearing and hammers arranged above the back of a watch-movement, substantially as described.

In a repeating-watch, the hour-disk f,

fin er h and rack iece H in combination,

with the hammers and bell-wires arranged above the surface of the watclrmovement, substantially as described.

24K. The combination of the spring'barrel and its arbor, the hour-disk f, finger 72, gearing E, and winding device when placed on one surface of the watch-movement, substantially as described.

25. In repeating mechanism in which the hour and its divisions are struck by separate racks, the combination on one surface of the hour-striking disk f, linger h, piece II, bellwires, hammers, and gearing, as and for the purpose described.

26. The combination of thehai'nmers, rackpiece II ,hour-disk f, and releasing device for the rack that strikes the divisions of the hour when arranged on one surface of the Watch-movement, substantially as described.

27. The combination of the snail which regulates the striking of the divisions of the hour, gearing to connect the said snail with-the time mechanism, rack-piece II, releasingspring I, and hammer, all arranged on one surface of the watch-movement, substantially as specified.

28. The combination of the winding-segment and pinion, spring-barrel and mainspring, barrel-arbor, suitable racks for striking the hour and its divisions, snails and snail-pieces, releasing device for the .rack that strikes the divisions of the hour, regulating-gearing, and hammers, allarranged on one surface of the watch-movement and adapted to be connected. with the time-train on the same surface, substantially as de scribed.

29. A 're' leating mechanism in which the striking-racks and the device for starting the same are assembled on the back of a watchmovement so as to leave a space'on the same surface for the bells, in combination with a separate spring for driving the repeating mechanism, substantially as described.

3-30. In combination with the hour-disk f and its hammer placed above the back of the watch-movement, a device operated by the rackpieee H to adjust the hammer-click to avoid engaging the teeth of the rack before being set, substantially as described.

31. The combination of a repeating mechanism placed 011 the back of the watch-movementwith the hour-disk f, the hounhammer click provided with the pin q, and the rackpicce I'l, provided with the shoulder t, sub stantially as shown and described.

32. In combination with an hour-striking disk and hour-hammer, an hour-piece and hour-snail Z, placed on the back of the movement, and a separate spring for driving the repeating mechanism, substantially as described.

In combination with the hour-diskf, its arbor and spring-barrel, and hour-piece H, placed on the back of a watch-movement, the releasing-spring I, substantially as described.

3%. The hour-piece H and releasing-spring attached directly thereto, in combination with the winding-segment Ii, setting-lever F, and the rack II, which strikes the divisions of the hour, substantially as described.

35. The repeater-plate B, placed on the back of the watch so as to leave space bet-ween its peripheryand the periphery of the watchmovement for the bells, and provided with a projection q for the attachment of the bellwires, substantially as described.

36. In combination with the watch-movement and the watch-case, the repeater-plate provided with the projection q,for the purpose specified.

37. A bell-wire having its screw-plate so formed and attached to the watch-movement that the said plate stands over the periphery of the watclrmovementfor the purpose of pressing on the edge of the watch-case when applied thereto, substantially as shown and described.

38. A bell-wire having a screw-plate provided with a projection or flange to press on the periphery of the case, substantially as described.

39. A sliding bolt for operating the lever of a repeating mechanism, adapted to connect with the said lever above the center of the case, substantially as described.

4 0. In combination with the repeating inside slide N and outside slide connected with each other and the lever above the center of the case, substai'itially as shown and described.

l2. In combination with the lever and the case, in the back-snap of which is a mortise 1", the inside slide N, having projections a u, and the outside slide N, substantially as described and shown.

i3. A slide for operating the repeating mechanism, connected with the case and adapted to engage the lever of the repeating mechanism, said slide being connected with the lever between the cap and the center of the case, substantially as described.

44:. A repeating attachment having separately-operated racks for engaging the hammers that strike the hour and its divisions, and bell-wires, all of said parts being assembled 011 a plate applied to a timeanovcment, in combination with a special spring for driving the repeating mechanism, substantially as described.

l5. In combination with the bell-wires of a repeating mechanism, a clamp for clamping the bell-wires to the movement, provided with the flange 15 to connect the wires with the case for the purpose of increasing the volume of sound, substantially as described.

46. A rack-piece provided with a suitable adjusting device for adjusting it to the snail, substantially as described.

T7. The hour-piece provided with an ad justing device, in combination with the snail and hour-disk, substantially as described.

l8. An hour-striking rack, in combination with an hour-piece provided with an adj ustin g device, substantially as described.

4.0. A striking-rack, in combination with a rack-piece provided with an adjusting device and a snail, substantially as described.

50. A slide for setting the repeating mechanism of a watch placed above the center rim of the ease, in combination with the case having a cut or slot through its back cover, substantially as described.

51. A hammer for strikil'ig-watches, made from sheet metal and provided with a hole in its head by which to fasten the hair-spring, substantially as described.

FRED TERSTEGEN'.

Witnesses:

MILLARD R. J ONES, .TULiUs Rnnwo'nor. 

